Love Is Love – Folkestone Pride

June is officially Pride month across the UK but the folk behind Folkestone Pride work hard to make Pride events happen all year round.  The team keep the love alive with monthly LGBTea+ sandwiches meets at The Folkestone Bookshop, roller discos, DJ nights and walks, swims and Active Pride sessions at F51. Some events are fundraisers for the main Pride Parade, this year held on the weekend of 26th to 28th July 2024, but every meet is designed to give a safe and accessible opportunity to celebrate our LGBTQ+ community. Rosie Percy and Nikky Lyle are the co-directors and spoke to Folkelife about their plans.

Rosie: “My first Pride in Folkestone was quite disastrous actually. My now-ex’s parents were down and I’d put a rainbow ribbon in my hair as part of my outfit.  I can distinctly remember his mother saying ‘Why are you doing that?  Aren’t you scared they’ll think you’re one of them?!’  And I thought ‘you are part of the problem.’  Homophobia is there, but every time you witness it, it always shocks.  That’s why we think it’s really important not to confine Pride to just one month, or just one event.  We want to celebrate love in all its shapes and sizes and people in any way we can.”

pride For everyone

Nikky: “We want everyone to enjoy Pride, so we’ve tried to make sure there’s a little something here for you all.  There’s glam punk and disco at the Pre-Pride party at The Chambers on Friday night. There’s the parade with picnic, market, music and entertainment.  That’s all free on The Leas on Saturday afternoon from 1.30pm at Folkestone Town Hall, and 2pm from The Bandstand.  Then we have two floors of music and DJs at Quarterhouse for the official party from 8pm to 1pm on Saturday night.   When you want to calm down in the morning on Sunday we’ve got yoga and a sea swim too.  So there’s a little something there for all, we hope!”

pride across town

Rosie: “We have to thank all the local businesses who have helped support us.  It’s a big thing putting on an event like this and we’re only a small team.  So to know that Burrito Buoy will make food for us, and The Quarter Masters will print our locally designed T-shirts, by Jenny Davis is really important.  Quarterhouse, Creative Folkestone and venues like Sunflower House for the Yoga and The Chambers for the pre-party are a great support too. 

“Dita Garbo joins us again for some drag stories and partying.  She’ll walk up the town with Folkestone Mayor Abena Akuffo-Kelly.”

Nikky: “And we’ve tried to make these events cost-accessible as well.  For example, at The Chambers there are a few free tickets available, no questions asked, just come and enjoy the party with us.  The Parade is free and so is the sea swim – we just need to know numbers for the sea swim.”

a safe space to celebrate

Rosie: “The fact that there are so many businesses in the town here to help us celebrate means we can put on an event where people feel safe. It’s great that our events are so well attended, but if the noise gets too much and you just want to take yourself off to a quieter space, then that’s available.  Sometimes it can be overwhelming and it’s important that everyone feels comfortable.”

beyond the parade

“Our band of volunteers is quite busy with the Parade organising at the moment but there’s space for more volunteers on the committee.  If anyone wants to get involved then please contact us at Folkestone Pride.  We’ve got other things planned such as sea swims, rambles and hikes, history walks, and our regular meets at The Folkestone Bookshop.  We’d love to see you!”